Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-30
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Notes on the Lesson for Sep
TENDER 25-"The Divine
Missionary"
From Chicago Standard By Rev. J. N, Coon.l
The lesson for the above date NAV be found
in the fourth chapter of Matthew, from the
twelfth to the twenty-fifth verses Time, A.
d. 20 Places, Galilee, Nazareth, Caper-
naum.
SPECIAL MENTION
Mission Outlook. Population of tho world.
Low millions; Romish Church, 400 millions;
Mohammedans $50 millions; Protestants,
10 millions; Greek Church. IS millions; ORR
en- tai churches, 10 millions; Jews 10 millions:
heather, so millions
n. Alssiom Forces The professed followers of
Christ are about one in every seveniy-tive Of
the worlds population; there are over one
hundred miss onary societies; nearly one
million native communicates; millions (prob-
ably of pupils in mission schools
ception OF the gospel
The Bible is printed i'll $50 languages and
dialects.
There are $50, COO, 900 copies in circulation.
Twenty five Woman's Boards in England
missionary work.
Tho Young Mems Christian Associations are
now formally inausurating Foreign Mission
airy branches
The number of missionary societies is ten
fold what it was eighty years ago.
Inc number of converts is nearly fifty-fold.
The increased facilities for inter commune
cation.
Tho diffusion of the English language
Wonderful revivals, with pentecostal
power, are frequent in heathen lands
The increase IN membership in heather
lands is thirty times greater than at homo in
ployed, although the tests of dscipleship are
OF the most trying nature.
Mission Progress. -sWe are now actually liv-
ing in the greatest missionary era of the church
airy societies multiplied from seven to seventy;
made missionaries from 10 to 2,4OO, beside
the thousands of native preachers and teach
ers; converts from sc, 900 to 1,65o, 600; church
81, ,G0;, Protestant schools from 70 to
$4,000, with nearly half million pupils:
translations Of the Scriptures from 50 to 22236,
and nd the number of copies circulated from
within ten years TO come will undoubtedly be
greater than during fifty years past In one
Annus MirabIis Of the modern history of
missions twenty donors gave four millions of
dollars, and more converts were added to the
mission churches than The sohole number of
converted heather when the century began!"
"a. T. Pierson.)
A CALL OF PROVIDENCE
", " u Mo~ See Connecting, Link. Had
heard We may believe that Jesus had
watched Johns movements with lively in
terest. Cast into prison. In Matthew ID:
3-l2 and Mark 6: 1879, we learn the particu-
lars. Departed. From Judea where he spent
most of the first year of his ministry Into
Galilee. Why? No reason is given by Mat
thew From John 4: 1-3 we infer that it was
to escape the hate of the Phariseea His time
had not yet como John s: ~ and, therefore,
ne ne should not unnecessarily expose himself.
Is some principle ut stake, or some duty to be
performed. Galilee. @Ihe scene of the greater
part of our Lords ministry. shad an i'm
men .s population, brave, energetic, and
and SO was called by Isaiah, literally e.: ~ cir
cult of the Gentiles".. sThree times we find
our Lord described as making extensive jour-
neys around Galilee a: %; Luke s: l, ETC.
Matt 9: 50, etc.," John was not beheaded
until after about year of Imprisonment
CHOOSING HoMA
V. l3. Nazareth Here was where He was
bro !Y;h up, and naturally He would be drawn
ceive Him, His preaching being distasteful to
them duke 4: 16-3D Nazareth is a city of
Galilee, famous chiefly for being the home Of
Christ ut is on the north side of the PLAIN
of the sea of Gailee. In the days of Christ
it seems to have had bad name, or to have
been despised on account of it's insignifcance
lJohn l: 49, Because of His rejection by
in il, Galilee, made His home in Capernaum.
Though He changed His residence, the name
OF the place still chung to Him. and the title
OF Jesus OF Nazareth" appeared over Him
upon the cross. The town now is known as
thousand population" Daceu. In 50 far as
the term may be applied to Him Cape7-
'1amm {town Of Nahum): A city on the shore
OF the sea of Gailee. 1t was a place Of con-
gogue built by Roman centurion, and, it is
inferred, q custom-house with collectors of
customs. 1t is of special interest from the
fact that after His rejection at Nazareth
Jesus made it His home, and hence it is
spoken of as "His own CITY," The site of the
place ls in dispute, the leaning being toward
Tell Hum. Here Christ spent nearly two
Years Of His public ministry. En- tie borders
diaries Joined.
WORKING OUT THE DIVINE PLAN
'. "A That 1t might be fulfilled Christ's
movements were altogether voluntary, and
HIS whole life was according to "a definite
preconceived plan There doubtless were
other purposes served by this residence at
Capernaum; but Matthew has an object in
emphasizing the fact that it fulfills prophecy,
for ne Ii constantly showing that Jesus is
2 Like many of the quotations in the New
Testament from the Old it is a free rendering
of the thought of the prophecy.
GLORIOUS NEWS FOR THE NATIONS
VI. Is, 1G zedmlun..... Nophtasi Parts Of
Palestine that We're in disesteem and dis
repute. 1t was upper or northern Galilee
or the Gemtiles So-called because the popu-
lation was mixed one, sless parey Jewish
than the Others" Sat IN aar}:ncsS The peo
pie of this district were proverbial for their
Ignorance and debasing supershtions. The
word "sat" is suggestive of fixed and habit
q q state See Luke 10: l.; %: 6 G,rat light
Even Christ Himself who is pleased to make
this dark province the first center of his
Kingdom Kin Dc N of light See John l: 9; 3: 10; |
Pet 2: 8; John L: 5; 2: s.; S: IL legion and
shadole Of death. An Old Testament figure
for drear and waste place or state. DID
light spring wp2 A very vivid picture of the
coming OF the gospel 1t is wholly Of divine
mercy and grace
CHRIST, THE DIVINE MISSIONARY
i, lie ID comes from heaven to earth bringing
the gospel message; (2) he fits himself for the
work by careful study of the sinners needs
and habits, C5D he waits tho opening provi-
dences of God that he may enter upon his
work; a. ne promptly responds when duty
calls; @) he accepts tile benightod and needy
field as his appointed field of labor; OD he
works out the divine plan rnSnnctinp hin,Salf.